Sunday, March 23, 2025

3/23/25

 


What will fifth graders be learning this week? 

  • Positivity Project Focus: Humility 

  • Literacy: Opinion Writing 

  • Math: Reviewing standards, preparing for Adv. Math test and learning M-Step software

  • Social Studies: 

    • The Revolutionary War - Battles in the South; The Treaty of Paris

  • Science: Practicing with M-STEP format & review of Spaceship Earth 

    • Earth’s Rotation: Cause of Day & Night

    • Earth’s tilted axis: Cause of Seasons

    • Earth’s Orbit: Cause of Seeing Different Constellations Each Season

    • Sun’s Path Changes with Seasons

    • Phases of the Moon 

Math Touchpoint

Believe it or not, we do not have a touchpoint this week. This week we are focusing on reviewing old math techniques and tricks to better ourselves for our advanced math test on Wednesday 3/26. I have sent out an email to those student's families who are not interested in taking the advanced math test. If you did not receive the email, then your student is interested. Please chat with them about it as some students are considering. 


We will also be trying the M-Step tool kit and learn how to interact with the software. 

Upcoming Health Lesson

Please read, sign, and return for consent or to exclude your student’s participation in the lesson. Return to your student’s homeroom teacher ASAP. We are still missing several. The health class is scheduled for this Thursday, 3/27.

Testing Season

What we affectionately call “the testing season” is upon us. After break, we will use Tuesdays as our main testing day and provide additional time on Wednesdays for any students that may need it. 


As mandated by the state of Michigan, fifth grade students will take the M-STEP for ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies to look at their learning over their elementary years. (Results usually are not released until the fall.)

  • Tuesday, 4/8 - Science M-STEP

  • Tuesday, 4/15 - Social Studies M-STEP

  • Tuesday, 4/22 - ELA M-STEP

  • Tuesday, 4/29 - Math M-STEP


Students will also take our local assessments, NWEA Reading and NWEA Math. (Results to these assessments are available within 24 hours.)

  • Tuesday, May 6th - NWEA ELA

  • Tuesday, May 13th - NWEA Math  


What can you do to help your student? Encourage healthy sleeping and eating habits. Drinking water is crucial to the brain as well. Last, consider doing something fun on Tuesday evenings to celebrate a day of hard work. 

Interesting Reads 

Dates to Know - This Week & Beyond

  • Wednesday, March 26th - Late start / Author Visit 

  • Thursday, March 27th -  Health Lessons

  • Friday, March 28th - No School - First day of Spring Break

  • Monday, April 7th - School resumes

  • Tuesday, April 8th - Werner/Karpus-Lawrence to Planetarium

  • Wednesday, April 9th - NO Late Start

  • Thursday, April 10th - Kern to Planetarium


Planning Ahead for Special Events

  • Monday, May 5th: Field Trip to the Air Zoo 

  • Friday, May 9th:  Elementary Track Meet

  • Thursday, May 29th: 5th Grade Farewell Breakfast

  • Friday, May 30th: Awards Ceremony 

Next Year Electives

  • Here is the link you should have received from another email, but we wanted to make sure you received it. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmbJo1lQ7j5foGa-yvsK97WhkJ0RC4RRvyerF3l7yN4IkaOw/viewform


Please complete by March 27th. 

Fifth Grade Teacher/Student Farewell Breakfast

While it is not until May 30th, this event will be here before we know it. Fifth-grade teachers and students will eat breakfast together in the cafeteria and have a special send-off. We will be asking for ONE baby picture of your 5th grader after Spring Break if you want to think about which one you would like to submit. 

Donation Opportunities

We will continue to add to our wish lists as needs arise. Thank you for considering any additional donations.

  • Mrs. Kern’s Classroom Wish List: 

    • Thank you for the recent donation of nut free, egg free snacks. Multiple parents donated. Thank you. 

  • Mrs. Lawrence’s Classroom Wish List: 

    • We are out of tissues and disinfecting wipes! We really could use some, please!

    • Amazon Wishlist

  • Mr. Werner’s Classroom Wish List: 

    • Snacks! - WE ARE OUT! The office is nearly OUT as well. 

    • Paper Towels

    • Tissues/Kleenex! Our supply is building back up! Thank you for a few donations! 

    • Amazon wish list

Nightly Reading Homework:

  • Please read at least 25 minutes each day. 

  • Questions to Ask: 

    • What are you reading at school?

    • What other types of books might you be interested in reading?

    • Choose a quote from the text. What do you think this part means? 

Checklist

  • Have you completed the Google Form next year’s electives? See link above. 

  • Have you checked your student’s Friday folder and reviewed work?

  • Have you checked with your student to see if he/she has any missing work to complete? 

  • Have you talked with your student about the advanced math test?
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Sunday, March 16, 2025

3/16/25

 


What will fifth graders be learning this week? 

  • Positivity Project Focus: Cheering on Others’ Success

  • Literacy: Athlete Leaders for Change

    • Comparing & Contrasting Point of View

    • Text-Based Discussions

    • Opinion Writing 

  • Math: Continue Decimal Division: Dividing a whole number by a decimal, dividing a decimal by a whole number, and dividing a decimal by a decimal

  • Social Studies: 

    • Advantages and disadvantages of the British vs. Continental armies

    • Battles of the Revolutionary War 

  • Science: Why do the stars change with the seasons? Why does the Moon change shape? 

In this unit, students explore the Earth, Sun, Moon, and stars using observations of shadows and changing patterns in the sky. Students also explore the planets of our Solar System and begin to consider what might lie beyond.

Fifth Grade Teacher/Student Farewell Breakfast

While it is not until May 30th, this event will be here before we know it. Fifth grade teachers and students will eat breakfast together in the cafeteria and have a special send off. We will be asking for ONE baby picture of your 5th grader after Spring Break if you want to think about which one you would like to submit. 

Music and Performance Information

Mrs. Richards did a wonderful job putting on our show together and the kids were allstars! Great job students! If you would like to watch the performance, please visit our SJ Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/live/Oqgs4pgJA1w?si=hiajVzqv0-C-c9nP

(Lincoln starts around the 47th minute)


Here are a few pictures from the March 12th event:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-CYcJ_liLpegtGLqaSHv1yJHasLGE0wO?usp=sharing

NEXT YEAR ELECTIVES

  • Here is the link you should have received from another email, but we wanted to make sure you received it. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmbJo1lQ7j5foGa-yvsK97WhkJ0RC4RRvyerF3l7yN4IkaOw/viewform

Upcoming Health Lessons 

Please check your student’s Friday folder for information and a BLUE permission slip for the upcoming health lesson. Permission slips are due by March 21, 2025. Thank you!

𝜋 Pi Day was a HUGE success! 𝜋

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and purchased goodies for the day of learning about circumference, area, and, of course, PIE! I wish I had taken some photos, but it was such a fun and delicious way to wrap up a math lesson!

Math Touchpoint

This week we will continue to work on dividing decimals. By the end of our unit, students will be able to divide a decimal by a decimal, a decimal by a whole number, and a whole number by a decimal. Students should also be able to add, subtract, and multiply with decimals. We will take our unit assessment prior to spring break.


 As we continue forward in this unit, checking in on your student’s understanding of these processes will be very helpful. Continuing to explore basic decimal understanding and place value using money will also be beneficial. Additionally, continuing to ensure fact fluency is practiced at home & reviewing the standard algorithm for multi-digit multiplication and division is key! Please see last week’s blog for videos and additional practice resources. 

Dates to Know - This Week & Beyond

  • Wednesday, March 19th - Late start

  • Wednesday, March 26th - Late start / Author Visit 

  • Thursday, March 27th -  Health Lessons

  • Friday, March 28th - No School - First day of Spring Break

  • Monday, April 7th - School resumes

  • Tuesday, April 8th - Werner/Karpus-Lawrence to Planetarium

  • Wednesday, April 9th - NO Late Start

  • Thursday, April 10th - Kern to Planetarium


Planning Ahead for Special Events

  • Monday, May 5th: Field Trip to the Air Zoo 

  • Friday, May 9th:  Elementary Track Meet

  • Thursday, May 29th: 5th Grade Farewell Breakfast

  • Friday, May 30th: Awards Ceremony 

Field Trips & Chaperones

We have one field trip left that we can invite chaperones to attend. Please remember that a volunteer form must be on file with the school to participate. Please let your student’s homeroom teacher know if you would like to chaperone by March 27th to allow plenty of time for background checks. As a chaperone, you will be responsible for a small group as groups spread out to tour the Air Zoo. 

  • Air Zoo Trip Date Monday, May 5th 

    • This field trip allows lots of time for students to explore and allows parents or guardians to attend. More details will come later. 

    • A bag lunch will be needed. 


*Check out the Air Zoo: Aerospace & Science Experience at this link. Note: It is not a zoo with animals. 

Donation Opportunities

We will continue to add to our wish lists as needs arise. Thank you for considering any additional donations.

  • Mrs. Kern’s Classroom Wish List: 

    • Thank you for the recent donation of tissues and wipes!

    • We could use some nut free, egg free snacks. These growing students are hungry all the time! 

    • We are in need of some Oreos by Tuesday for a special science lesson on phases of the moon. Double Stuff Oreos are preferred for this activity. Please let Mrs. Kern know if you would be willing to donate. mkern@sjschools.org. 

  • Mrs. Lawrence’s Classroom Wish List: 

  • Mr. Werner’s Classroom Wish List: 

    • Snacks! - WE ARE OUT! The office is nearly OUT as well. 

    • Paper Towels - Have a few donations - thank you!

    • Tissues/Kleenex! Our supply is building back up! Thank you for a few donations! 

    • Amazon wish list

Nightly Reading Homework:

  • Please read at least 25 minutes each day. 

  • Questions to Ask: 

    • What are you reading at school?

    • What other types of books might you be interested in reading?

    • Choose a quote from the text. What do you think this part means? 

Checklist

  • Have you checked your student’s Friday folder and reviewed work?

  • Have you checked with your student to see if he/she has any missing work to complete? 

  • Can your student show you the process for standard algorithm division?

  • Can your student demonstrate addition, subtraction, and multiplication of decimals?
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